About Mesothelioma

THE SEARCH FOR A CANCER CURE

The Foundation and the Research of Dr. Parkash Gil, M.D.

Jerry Neil Paul gave $200,000 to launch the Foundation. In June of 2001, the Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America used $100,000 of the launch money as an initial research grant to the University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Medical Center. This organization was chosen because Dr. Parkash Gill was found there doing his research with expertise in developing cancer therapies for several types of hard to treat cancers. Soon after the initial donation, Jerry and Elizabeth Paul personally gave more than $500,000 toward research for a mesothelioma cancer-cure.

Dr. Gill has established a comprehensive program for the treatment of Mesothelioma. The team includes Pathologists who are expert in making the correct diagnosis from tissue samples, Thoracic Surgeons who may be able to surgically remove the cancer from the chest in suitable cases, and cancer specialists known as Oncologists will work to develop innovative treatments.

SURGERY - Surgery plays a critical role in making a diagnosis, but is of limited value unless combined with radiation and chemotherapy to improve the outcome.

RADIATION THERAPY - Radiation therapy may be of prophylactic value to treat the incision sites after surgery and prevent chest wall implantation.

CHEMOTHERAPY - Chemotherapy is most commonly used in the treatment of advanced and progressive Mesothelioma.

IMMUNE THERAPY - Various immune stimulating proteins have been tested directly, or by gene therapy techniques.

NEWER THERAPIES - These include drugs that block the formation of blood vessels that supply nutrients to the tumor. Also under investigation are antibodies to proteins found on the surface of the tumor cells.